Jewelry securement device

ABSTRACT

A jewelry securement device may include a band having a first end and a second end. A female retainer may be coupled to the first end, and a male retainer may be coupled to the second end of the band. The female retainer may comprise an aperture. The male retainer may comprise a shape that is complementary to the shape of the aperture, and portions of the male retainer may be inserted into the aperture of the female retainer to position the first end and second end proximate to each other. Preferably, the band may be movable between a closed position in which portions of the male retainer are inserted into the aperture of the female retainer, and an open position in which portions of the male retainer are separated from the aperture of the female retainer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This patent specification relates to the field of jewelry devices whichmay be secured around portions of the body. More specifically, thispatent specification relates to devices for securing bracelets,necklaces, and other jewelry adornments to a body.

BACKGROUND

Jewelry is commonly worn around various portions of the body, such asthe neck, wrists, and ankles, and is often worn during activities thatrequire movement of the body. For this reason and due to the cost ofjewelry, the jewelry must be able to be securely fastened to the body soas to prevent loss. However, the jewelry must also be configured to bereadily unfastened from the body so that the wearer is able to removethe jewelry without undue frustration.

While there exists a wide variety of different types of securementdevices for use in connection with various jewelry items, such asnecklaces, bracelets, anklets, and other similar types of jewelry, mostof these devices have complex assemblies. For example, some securementdevices include a clasp or hook type elements which must be insertedthrough relatively small apertures. These devices can be difficult tooperate for those with poor eye sight, arthritis in the hands, or whoare unfamiliar with the devices. Other securement devices operate by wayof small springs and clasps which are not only complicated tomanufacture but are also easily broken by most users. Still otherdevices are relatively easy to operate, such as simple hook and ringcombinations, but offer very little security and securement.

Therefore a need exists for a novel devices for securing bracelets,necklaces, and other jewelry adornments to a body. There is also a needfor novel jewelry securement devices which are not overtly difficult forusers to operate. A further need exists, for novel jewelry securementdevices which are not complicated to manufacture and not easily brokenby most users. Finally, a need exists for novel jewelry securementdevices which easy to operate and which securely fasten to the body.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A jewelry securement device is provided which is able to be secured toand around portions of the body of a user. In some embodiments, thedevice may include a band having a first end and a second end. A femaleretainer may be coupled to the first end, and an aperture may bedisposed in the female retainer. A male retainer may be coupled to thesecond end of the band. Portions of the male retainer may be insertedinto the aperture of the female retainer to position the first end andsecond end proximate to each other.

In further embodiments, the device may include a band made of aresilient material having a first end and a second end. A femaleretainer may be coupled to the first end, and an aperture may bedisposed in the female retainer. A male retainer may be coupled to thesecond end of the band. The band may be movable between a closedposition, in which portions of the male retainer are inserted into theaperture of the female retainer and in which the male retainer is unableto be moved laterally relative to the female retainer, and an openposition in which portions of the male retainer are separated from theaperture of the female retainer and in which the male retainer is ableto be moved laterally relative to the female retainer. The resilientmaterial of the band may resist movement of the device into the closedposition to maintain the device in the closed position once so moved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an exampleand are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, inwhich like references may indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1—FIG. 1 depicts a top perspective view of an example of a jewelrysecurement device in a closed position according to various embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 2—FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom perspective view of an example of ajewelry securement device in a closed position according to variousembodiments described herein.

FIG. 3—FIG. 3 shows a top perspective view of an example of a jewelrysecurement device in an open position according to various embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 4—FIG. 4 depicts a bottom perspective view of an example of ajewelry securement device in an open position according to variousembodiments described herein.

FIG. 5—FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional, through line 5-5 shown in FIG. 1,elevation view of an example of a jewelry securement device according tovarious embodiments described herein.

FIG. 6—FIG. 6 shows a sectional, through line 6-6 shown in FIG. 1,elevation view of an example of a jewelry securement device according tovarious embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of oneor more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singularforms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms aswell as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by onehaving ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Itwill be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonlyused dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and thepresent disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overlyformal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number oftechniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefitand each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in somecases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sakeof clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possiblecombination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion.Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with theunderstanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope ofthe invention and the claims.

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”,“right”, “rear”, “front”, “side”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, andderivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1.However, one will understand that the invention may assume variousalternative orientations and step sequences, except where expresslyspecified to the contrary. Therefore, the specific devices and processesillustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the followingspecification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventiveconcepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions andother physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosedherein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expresslystate otherwise.

Although the terms “first”, “second”, etc. are used herein to describevarious elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms.These terms are only used to distinguish one element from anotherelement. For example, the first element may be designated as the secondelement, and the second element may be likewise designated as the firstelement without departing from the scope of the invention.

As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refersto a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number.Additionally, as used in this application, the term “substantially”means that the actual value is within about 10% of the actual desiredvalue, particularly within about 5% of the actual desired value andespecially within about 1% of the actual desired value of any variable,element or limit set forth herein.

New jewelry devices which may be secured around portions of the body arediscussed herein. In the following description, for purposes ofexplanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident,however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may bepracticed without these specific details.

The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of theinvention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specificembodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.

The present invention will now be described by example and throughreferencing the appended figures representing preferred and alternativeembodiments. FIGS. 1-6 illustrates examples of a jewelry securementdevice (“the device”) 100 according to various embodiments. In someembodiments, the device may comprise a band 11 having a first end 12 anda second end 13. A female retainer 21 may be coupled to the first end12, and a male retainer 31 may be coupled to the second end 13 of theband 11. The female retainer 21 may comprise an aperture 22. The maleretainer 31 may comprise a shape that is complementary to the shape ofthe aperture 22, and portions of the male retainer 31 may be insertedinto the aperture 22 of the female retainer 21 to position the first end12 and second end 13 proximate to each other. Preferably, the band 11may be movable between a closed position 71 (FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6) inwhich portions of the male retainer 31 are inserted into the aperture 22of the female retainer 21, and an open position 72 (FIGS. 3 and 4) inwhich portions of the male retainer 31 are separated from the aperture22 of the female retainer 21.

The device 100 may comprise one or more bands 11 which may be shaped orconfigured to be positioned around portions of the body of a user. Theband 11 may be shaped or configured to form any closed shape when theband 11 is in the closed position 71, such as a circle, oval, ellipse,crescent, curvilinear triangle, quatrefoil, parallelogram, square,rectangle, trapezoid, trapezium, triangle, kite, rhombus, pentagon,hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon, or any other shape,including combinations of shapes, such as may be found in Euclideangeometry. In preferred embodiments, the band 11 may comprise an annularshape or ring shape which may be substantially circular shaped.

Generally, the band 11 may be worn around a portion of the body of auser or wearer of the device 100 so that when the band 11 is in theclosed position 71 around a portion of the body, the band 11 may form aclosed shaped that remains secured around the portion of the body. Inaddition to shapes, the band 11 may be configured in a plurality ofsizes which may be defined by the distance between two opposing pointson the band 11 when the band 11 is in the closed position 71. Inpreferred embodiments, the band 11 may form an annular shape having adiameter between 4 centimeters and 60 centimeters when the band is inthe closed position 71. For example, the band 11 may form an annularshape having a diameter between 4 centimeters and 8 centimeters while inthe closed position 71 so that the band 11 may encircle a person's wristor ankle. As another example, the band 11 may form an annular shapehaving a diameter between 15 centimeters and 30 centimeters while in theclosed position 71 so that the band 11 may encircle a person's neck orwaist.

The band 11 may be made from or comprise a resilient material which isflexible to allow deformation and resilient so as to return to itsoriginal shape after deformation. In some embodiments, a resilientmaterial may comprise natural rubbers, synthetic rubbers, plastics, suchas polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE),polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS),Polycarbonate (PC), low density polyethylene (LDPE), Polyoxymethylene(POM), Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), metals and metal alloyssuch as steel, stainless steel, copper, gold, cadmium, silver, platinum,aluminum, nickel, iron alloys, titanium, shape-memory alloys such ascopper-aluminium-nickel, nickel-titanium (NiTi), other alloys created byalloying zinc, copper, gold and iron, Fe—Mn—Si, Cu—Zn—Al, Cu—Al—Ni, orany other material which is flexible to allow deformation and resilientso as to return to its original shape after deformation. In preferredembodiments, the band 11 may be made from or comprise one or more metalsincluding steel, copper, gold, silver, platinum, aluminum, nickel, iron,titanium, and zinc. In further preferred embodiments, the band 11 may bea metal alloy comprising gold and cadmium. For example, Au—Cd 46.5/50at. % Cd. In still further preferred embodiments, the band 11 may be ametal alloy comprising gold, cadmium, and optionally any other suitablemetal.

In preferred embodiments, the band 11 may be made from or comprise aresilient material having a natural shape that the band 11 returns towhen not subjected to deformation stresses. The natural shape of theband 11 may be an open version of the closed shape that the band 11 isconfigured to form when the band 11 is in the closed position 71 so thatthe band 11 must be deformed to be moved into the closed position 71.Therefore, the resilient material of the band 11 may return the band 11to the open position 72, in which the band 11 is the open shape of theclosed shape that the band 11 is configured to form when the band 11 isin the closed position 71, when the female retainer 21 and male retainer31 are not in contact with each other. For example, the band 11 maycomprise an annular shape when in the closed position 71, and agenerally C-shape when in the open position 72 which the generallyC-shape open position 72 being the natural shape that the resilientmaterial of the band 11 returns to when not subjected to deformationstresses.

In some embodiments, the device 100 may comprise one or more fixtureswhich may be coupled to the band 11 at any location. A fixture 14 may beconfigured in any size and shape while forming a surface to which one ormore decorative objects 16 such as gemstones 17, rhinestones, charms,and the like may be coupled. Preferably, a fixture 14 may enablegenerally inflexible objects to be coupled to the band 11. In someembodiments, a fixture 14 may comprise a tab 15 which may be wrappedaround or otherwise coupled to the band 11. In alternative embodiments,a fixture 14 may be coupled to the band by being integrally formed withthe band 11.

The device 100 may comprise one or more female retainers 21. A femaleretainer 21 may be coupled to or proximate to an end of the band 11,such as the first end 12. Each female retainer 21 may comprise one ormore apertures 22 which may be disposed in the female retainer 21. Eachaperture 22 may comprise or be formed by a female surface 23. A femalesurface 23 may be configured in any shape and size. Preferably, a femalesurface 23 may be shaped or sized slightly larger than portions of themale retainer 31 so that the portions of the male retainer 31 may beinserted and nested within the aperture 22. The female retainer 21 mayalso comprise one or more female mounting surfaces 24 to which one ormore decorative objects 16 such as gemstones 17, rhinestones, charms,and the like may be coupled.

The device 100 may comprise one or more male retainers 31. A maleretainer 31 may be coupled to or proximate to an end of the band 11,such as the second end 13, that preferably is opposite the femaleretainer 21. Each male retainer 31 may comprise one or more malesurfaces 32 of which all or portions may be inserted into and in contactwith an aperture 22 of a female retainer 21. A male surface 32 may beconfigured in any shape and size. Preferably, a male surface 32 may beshaped or sized slightly smaller than portions of the one or more femalesurfaces 23 forming the aperture 22 so that male surfaces 32 of the maleretainer 31 may be inserted and nested within the aperture 22. The maleretainer 31 may also comprise one or more male mounting surfaces 33 towhich one or more decorative objects 16 such as gemstones 17,rhinestones, charms, and the like may be coupled.

Generally, portions of a male retainer 31 may be inserted into theaperture 22 of a female retainer 21 to maintain or to secure two ends,such as the first end 12 and second end 13, of the band 11 together orin proximity thereby maintaining or securing the device 100 in theclosed position 71. In further embodiments, the male surfaces 32 andfemale surfaces 23 may be configured in any shape or size with the malesurfaces 32 forming a shape that is smaller than the shape formed by thefemale surfaces 23 so that the all or portions of the male surfaces 32may be inserted into the aperture 22 formed by the female surfaces 23.For example, a male surface 32 may comprise a relatively smaller fivepoint star shape which may be inserted into a relatively larger pentagonshaped female surface 23

In preferred embodiments, one or more male surfaces 32 and femalesurfaces 23 forming the aperture 22 may be complementary in shape. Forexample, a male surfaces 32 may form a generally cylindrical shape andthe female surfaces 23 forming the aperture 22 may also form a generallycylindrical shape so that the male surfaces 32 may contact or be broughtin close proximity to the female surfaces 23 when the male surfaces 32of the male retainer 31 are inserted into the aperture 22. As anotherexample, a male surfaces 32 may form a generally heart shape and thefemale surfaces 23 forming the aperture 22 may also form a generallyheart shape so that the male surfaces 32 may contact or be brought inclose proximity to the female surfaces 23 when the male surfaces 32 ofthe male retainer 31 are inserted into the aperture 22. The malesurfaces 32 and female surfaces 23 may be configured in anycomplementary shape or shapes, including, circles, ovals, ellipses,crescents, curvilinear triangles, quatrefoils, parallelograms, squares,rectangles, trapezoids, trapeziums, triangles, kites, rhombi, pentagons,hexagons, heptagons, octagons, nonagons, decagons, or any other shapes,including combinations of shapes.

In preferred embodiments, the male surfaces 32 and female surfaces 23may be configured in any shape or size with the male surfaces 32 forminga shape that is complementary to and smaller than the shape formed bythe female surfaces 23 so that the all or portions of the male surfaces32 may be inserted into the aperture 22 formed by the female surfaces23. In further embodiments, the female surfaces 23 may form a shape thatis approximately 0.05% to 10% larger than the complementary shape formedby the male surfaces 32. For example, the female surfaces 23 may form asquare shape that is approximately 0.05% to 10% larger than thecomplementary square shape formed by the male surfaces 32.

In some embodiments, the device 100 may comprise one or more lowerlimiter surfaces 41 which may contact one or more upper limiter surfaces42 when the device 100 is in the closed position 71 to limit the amountof the male surfaces 32 that may be inserted into the aperture 22 formedby the female surfaces 23. In further embodiments, a lower limitersurface 41 may contact an upper limiter surface 42 when portions of themale surfaces 32 of the male retainer 31 are inserted into an aperture22 of the female retainer 31 to limit the insertion of the portions ofthe male retainer 21 into the aperture of the female retainer 31. Asperhaps best shown in FIG. 6, in some embodiments, a lower limitersurface 41 may be formed on the second end 13 of the band 11 proximateto the male retainer 31 and an upper limiter surface 42 may be formed onthe female retainer 21. When the device 11 is moved into the closedposition 71, the lower limiter surface 41 and upper limiter surface 42may contact each other and this contact may govern how far the maleretainer 31 may be inserted into the aperture 22 of the female retainer21.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6, the band 11 may be movable between aclosed position 71 in which portions of the male retainer 31 areinserted into the aperture 22 of the female retainer 21, and an openposition 72, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in which portions of the maleretainer 31 may be separated from the aperture 22 of the female retainer21. When in the open position 72, two ends, such as a first end 12 and asecond end 13, of the band 11 may be in an open version of a closedshape and the ends 12, 13, may be separated and freely moved in anydirection relative to each other. When in the closed position 71, twoends, such as a first end 12 and a second end 13, of the band 11 may bein a closed shape and movement of the ends 12, 13, may be governed orlimited by a female retainer 21 and male retainer 31 coupled to the ends12, 13. In preferred embodiments, when in the closed position 71movement of the ends 12, 13, may be limited to movement substantially inone direction, such as up or down, on the z-axis by the one or more malesurfaces 32, female surfaces 23, lower limiter surfaces 41, and upperlimiter surfaces 42. In further preferred embodiments, the one or moremale surfaces 32, female surfaces 23, lower limiter surfaces 41, andupper limiter surfaces 42 may prevent the male retainer 31 from beingable to be moved laterally (moved in the x-axis and/or y-axis) relativeto the female retainer 21 when the device 100 is in the closed position71. The device 100 may be maintained in the closed position 71 by thetension exerted by the resilient material as it is deformed out of itsnatural shape and the contact between the one or more male surfaces 32,female surfaces 23, lower limiter surfaces 41, and upper limitersurfaces 42.

In some embodiments, the male retainer 31 may be required to bepositioned below the aperture 22 of the female retainer 21 beforeportions of the male retainer 31 may be inserted into the aperture 22 ofthe female retainer 21 so that once in the closed position 71, themovement of the male retainer 31 and its respective second end 13 may belimited to movement substantially in one direction, such as down, on thez-axis. In alternative embodiments, the male retainer 31 may be requiredto be positioned above the aperture 22 of the female retainer 21 beforeportions of the male retainer 31 may be inserted into the aperture 22 ofthe female retainer 21 so that once in the closed position 71, themovement of the male retainer 31 and its respective second end 13 may belimited to movement substantially in one direction, such as up, on thez-axis.

While some materials have been provided, in other embodiments, theelements that comprise the device 100 such as the band 11, femaleretainer 21, male retainer 31, optional fixtures 14, and/or any otherelement discussed herein may be made from or comprise durable materialssuch as aluminum, steel, other metals and metal alloys, wood, hardrubbers, hard plastics, fiber reinforced plastics, carbon fiber, fiberglass, resins, polymers or any other suitable materials includingcombinations of materials. Additionally, one or more elements may bemade from or comprise durable and slightly flexible materials such assoft plastics, silicone, soft rubbers, or any other suitable materialsincluding combinations of materials. In some embodiments, one or more ofthe elements that comprise the device 100 may be coupled or connectedtogether with heat bonding, chemical bonding, adhesives, clasp typefasteners, clip type fasteners, rivet type fasteners, threaded typefasteners, other types of fasteners, or any other suitable joiningmethod. In other embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprisethe device 100 may be coupled or removably connected by being press fitor snap fit together, by one or more fasteners such as hook and looptype or Velcro® fasteners, magnetic type fasteners, threaded typefasteners, sealable tongue and groove fasteners, snap fasteners, cliptype fasteners, clasp type fasteners, ratchet type fasteners, apush-to-lock type connection method, a turn-to-lock type connectionmethod, a slide-to-lock type connection method or any other suitabletemporary connection method as one reasonably skilled in the art couldenvision to serve the same function. In further embodiments, one or moreof the elements that comprise the device 100 may be coupled by being oneof connected to and integrally formed with another element of the device100.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described hereinwith reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof,it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art thatother embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/orachieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples arewithin the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplatedthereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A jewelry securement device, the devicecomprising: a. a band having a first end and a second end; b. a femaleretainer coupled to the first end; c. an aperture disposed in the femaleretainer; and d. a male retainer coupled to the second end of the band,wherein portions of the male retainer are inserted into the aperture ofthe female retainer to position the first end and second end proximateto each other.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the band forms a closedshape selected from a circle, oval, ellipse, crescent, curvilineartriangle, quatrefoil, parallelogram, square, rectangle, trapezoid,trapezium, triangle, kite, rhombus, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon,octagon, nonagon, and decagon, when portions of the male retainer areinserted into the aperture of the female retainer.
 3. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the band forms an annular shape having a diameterbetween 4 centimeters and 30 centimeters when portions of the maleretainer are inserted into the aperture of the female retainer.
 4. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the male retainer comprises a male surface,wherein the female retainer comprises a female surface, and wherein themale surface and female surface are complementary in shape.
 5. Thedevice of claim 1, further comprising a lower limiter surface and anupper limiter surface, and wherein the lower limiter surface contactsthe upper limiter surface when portions of the male retainer areinserted into the aperture of the female retainer to limit the insertionof the portions of the male retainer into the aperture of the femaleretainer.
 6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a fixture coupledto the band.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the band comprises aresilient material.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the band comprisesat least one metal selected from the group consisting of steel, copper,gold, cadmium, silver, platinum, aluminum, nickel, iron, titanium, andzinc.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the band is a metal alloycomprising gold and cadmium.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the maleretainer is required to be positioned below the aperture of the femaleretainer before portions of the male retainer are inserted into theaperture of the female retainer.
 11. A jewelry securement device, thedevice comprising: a. a band made of a resilient material having a firstend and a second end; b. a female retainer coupled to the first end; c.an aperture disposed in the female retainer; and d. a male retainercoupled to the second end of the band, wherein the band is movablebetween a closed position in which portions of the male retainer areinserted into the aperture of the female retainer and in which the maleretainer is unable to be moved laterally relative to the femaleretainer, and an open position in which portions of the male retainerare separated from the aperture of the female retainer and in which themale retainer is able to be moved laterally relative to the femaleretainer, and wherein the band resists being moved into the closedposition.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the band forms a closedshape selected from a circle, oval, ellipse, crescent, curvilineartriangle, quatrefoil, parallelogram, square, rectangle, trapezoid,trapezium, triangle, kite, rhombus, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon,octagon, nonagon, and decagon when the band is in the closed position.13. The device of claim 11, wherein the band forms an annular shapehaving a diameter between 4 centimeters and 30 centimeters when the bandis in the closed position.
 14. The device of claim 11, wherein the maleretainer comprises a male surface, wherein the female retainer comprisesa female surface, and wherein the male surface and female surface arecomplementary in shape.
 15. The device of claim 11, further comprising alower limiter surface and an upper limiter surface, and wherein thelower limiter surface contacts the upper limiter surface when portionsof the male retainer are inserted into the aperture of the femaleretainer to limit the insertion of the portions of the male retainerinto the aperture of the female retainer.
 16. The device of claim 11,further comprising a fixture coupled to the band.
 17. The device ofclaim 11, wherein the band comprises a resilient material.
 18. Thedevice of claim 11, wherein the band comprises at least one metalselected from the group consisting of steel, copper, gold, cadmium,silver, platinum, aluminum, nickel, iron, titanium, and zinc.
 19. Thedevice of claim 11, wherein the band is a metal alloy comprising goldand cadmium.
 20. The device of claim 11, wherein the male retainer isrequired to be positioned below the aperture of the female retainerbefore portions of the male retainer are inserted into the aperture ofthe female retainer.